Moolakar Human-Induced Regeneration Project

Moolakar Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a forest regeneration initiative located at Moolakar Station, near the remote outback village of Wanaaring, approximately 180 kilometers west of Bourke in New South Wales. Registered in June 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 43,777 hectares within the Mulga Lands bioregion. The region is traditionally utilized for grazing livestock, including sheep, cattle, and goats, often on large-scale pastoral leases.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which credits landholders for regenerating native forests on land where vegetation growth was previously suppressed, typically by livestock or feral animals, for at least 10 years. To achieve this, the project focuses on managing the timing and extent of grazing and humanely controlling feral animals (such as goats) to allow native species like Mulga (Acacia aneura), Gidgee, and Lignum to re-establish. The goal is to reach a forest cover density where trees exceed two meters in height and provide over 20% crown cover.

Environmentally, the Moolakar area is characterized by a semi-arid climate with low annual rainfall, averaging around 276mm. The landscape consists of semi-open flood country featuring billabongs and channels fed by the Paroo and Cuttaburra systems. Soils in this region typically include the red earths and sandy loams common to the Mulga Lands, alongside clay-heavy soils found in the floodplains and "box swamps" that intersperse the property.

An interesting aspect of this project is its social and economic impact on the owners, the Rosser family. The carbon project provided financial resilience that allowed them to retain staff and upgrade infrastructure during severe droughts when traditional grazing income was low. Additionally, the project helps protect biodiverse riparian zones which serve as wildlife refuges during dry periods.